Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/350567
BY DAN MURPHY Notre Dame almost let one get away. Since 2012, the Irish have signed the top football player in Indiana in each recruiting class. That streak was in jeopardy this March when Merill- ville (Ind.) Andrean High School line- backer Josh Barajas verbally commit- ted to play for James Franklin at Penn State. Two months later, the Hoosier native had a change of heart, opting to stay close to home and play for Notre Dame. Barajas, a four-star prospect whom 247Sports ranks as the second-best in- side linebacker and 158th-best overall player in the country, joins a grow- ing group of high impact players that head coach Brian Kelly and his staff have been able to corral within the state borders. Previous signees Gun- ner Kiel (2012), Jaylon Smith (2013) and Justin Brent (2014) were all ranked as the top players in Indiana. This year, Notre Dame has a chance to snag three of the top five players in the state. Defensive tackle Brandon Tiassum (No. 4) committed a week after Barajas. Four-star linebacker As- mar Bilal (No. 2) is expected by many recruiting analysts to eventually land in South Bend as well. "We go into every state in the coun- try, and we pull out one of their kids," Kelly said after signing Smith in 2013. "It's a dogfight. When you go down to Florida or you go to Texas or you go to California, you've got a fight on your hands. We would like to think if you came into Indiana for a great prospect you'd have a fight on your hands with Notre Dame, too." The Irish won their most recent dogfight with Penn State. Barajas said his decision was narrowed down to the Nittany Lions and Notre Dame, but not long after making a pledge to Penn State, he started having second thoughts. COMMITMENT PROFILE JOSH BARAJAS Linebacker Flips To In-State Irish After Pledging To Penn State 247Sports ranks Barajas as a four-star prospect, the best player in Indiana, and the No. 2 inside line- backer and No. 158 overall player in the country in the class of 2015. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS